First I want to say this is not the train the Silver Comet. My band is named the Comets, so we named our tour after the train. We are the only band ever named after a train. But this is a report of the train trip on the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star there. The first three stops were played by me, without the band as they couldn't make it to NYC. So here is the report.
Train #98 the Silver Meteor I arrived at the station in Florence SC, after eating at the Red Lobster. Which was good enough that I wanted to swap the crews with my red lobster at home. Once at the station, we checked in, and I went outside. Mainly to play on my new netbook, and to watch the ATCS monitor. My traveling companion my mother came out, to see what I was doing. I was talking to my friend Mitch here. At that second the SB Auto Train pulled in on Track 2. So I started taking photos of the Auto train as I rarely ever see it. After it pulled out, the conductor came over to me to see what I was doing on the platform. I shown her the ATCS Monitor, and we instantly became friends. So I had an open invitation to come to the lounge car, anytime before DC. The train pulled in 10 minutes late, at 11:55. I then sat in the lounge with the conductors till 2:30 in the morning. The three of us talked about random things. I then went back to my sleeper and slept till around Fredricksburg. Instead of going to talk to the conductors I just decided to lay in bed, and watch the window, in one of my favorite areas for views. In DC I got off, and walked to the head end. I watched the locomotive come off. It took forever for them to find a AEM-7 for our train. The minute it went back on, I ran back on to the first open sleeper. I got a glance into the baggage car, till they shut the door on me, so I couldn't see in. I then went to the diner, and I ate the Railroad French Toast. I so miss the pancakes. I then relaxed in my room, the rest of the way to NYP. I took photos of the rail cars ready to be restored near Phily. After that my train pulled in 45 minutes early. It was 51 minutes late at one time. I was in the hotel before the train was scheduled. I then ate lunch in GCT at Juniors. While some members of the group shopped in a store next door, I walked around Grand Central. Then I went to my first stop on the tour. Bryant Park. Not a good turn out at this performance. I played without my band for the first three stops, as they couldn't get to NYC. There was a variety of songs by the Beatles, Coven, Green Day, Peter Paul&Merry, and then some songs from my band, the Comets. The next day, I played Times Square which had a great crowd, Reactive. I swear I'm now on some youtube videos now. The next day I played South St. Seaport. The next day I went to the Ringo Starr concert. Ringo walked off stage, and Paul walked on stage from the last row of the audience, he was 5 rows behind me and I didn't notice till I read the news. The two did the Beatles Birthday.
Silver Star train #91
We got to the station around 9:30 after having a very rough cab ride. I swear those NYC cabs can make a person sick. I then picked up some odds and ends in the station and relaxed in the Club Acela. The train pulled on the monitor as delayed. It was like pulling teeth to get details out of the attendant. But I got it, it was one hour late. So I was on fb what else could I do. They got us after 30 minutes and took us down to the track. The train wasn't there, so I got to watch it pull in. We had a very friendly crew (sarcasm). I ate a burger in the diner. After that I relaxed on the top bunk of the room. In DC I got off and we were on the same platform as the Capital Limited. I walked all the way to the end of the Cap. I was going to ask if I could tour it seeing they left the door open. I asked which train it was, and the guy said it is the Capital Limited and you can't go in it. I didn't even ask if I could yet. I then ran back and got on my viewliner. We departed 15 minutes late. I watched monuments pass by my window. Then I relaxed as we went thru slow order laden CSX, who could maintain there track a little better if you ask me. As 110 MPH on Amtrak is much smother, then 80 on CSX. We overtook the auto train just south of Lorton VA. It pulled along side of us in Richmond waiting for a freight to pass by. We departed before it. We arrived in Richmond an hour late. There I got down from my perch and walked down to the diner to reserve my seating, as they neglected to come to the room to reserve. When it came time for dinner at 7:15. I walked into a line of people waiting to enter. I went in and they told me to get out of there. So then I talked to a railfan in the hallway. Then my grandmother went in. When they told her to get out, she stayed and made herself popular. The railfan and I were rooting for her. We then were allowed in, and we were sat with a lady going to Miami. Who was very interesting to talk to. I had the Steak, and it was perfect. May I say. Then after that I relaxed in the room. When we were approaching Cary NC, I heard the words on the scanner VIP is detraining from the sleepers. So I ran out of my room, to see who it was. It was Clay Aiken. He got off the sleeper ahead of me, so I only saw the back of his head, and the side of his face. I didn't bring the camera to take a picture. Then I just hung out in my room. CSX had us wait for a Freight in Wallace SC. Then there signals were out for 5 miles. So we moved at 10 miles an hour for like forever. My train arrived in Camden 45 minutes late, where I got off, on the first stop.
Mr. Hinley (you "outted" yourself with your Facebook link), while I hardly think you need be concerned with any infringement issues, be it noted your 'band" is not the first to be named The Comets:
Regarding your mention of Clay Aiken (I guess he got his 'break" on American Idol), now that's a little more 'my music"
Finally, allow me to note that Bryant Park is truly an "oasis of civility' in Midtown Manhattan. I was there during this past May; had coffee with my Niece bought at a kiosk on the 6th Ave (whoops; Avenue of the Americas - really how many native New Yorkers call it that?) side of the Park.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
I happened to google "Twin Star Rocket" and found there is a band in my hometown with that name. According to their website:
"WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? The Twin Star Rocket was a streamlined train running from Minnesota to Texas beginning in 1945. Trains symbolize progress, energy and... blah, blah, blah. We like trains and Twin Star Rocket beats “Polar Express”..."
Forget the Fab Four; here come the "Foamer Four".
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
There was a competitive DCI Drum & Bugle Corps originally based in Montgomery, AL (and later moved to Lexington, KY) in the 1980's, 90's, and early 00's named 'South Wind'.
And yes, the organizations' founders claimed to have named their drum corps for "a Chicago-Miami passenger train which once called on Montgomery".
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Mr. Hinley (you "outted" yourself with your Facebook link), while I hardly think you need be concerned with any infringement issues, be it noted your 'band" is not the first to be named The Comets:
Regarding your mention of Clay Aiken (I guess he got his 'break" on American Idol), now that's a little more 'my music"
Finally, allow me to note that Bryant Park is truly an "oasis of civility' in Midtown Manhattan. I was there during this past May; had coffee with my Niece bought at a kiosk on the 6th Ave (whoops; Avenue of the Americas - really how many native New Yorkers call it that?) side of the Park.
I totally forgot Bill Haley and his Comets. I was just thinking of a train that ran in my neck of the woods. I agree I love Bryant park it is a great place to relax and it feels safe. I agree no one that I know who has lived there calls it the Avenue of the Americas, to them it is just 6th
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
A lot of bands have railroad roots which surprised me. I would like to see the Twin Star Rocket. There is also a band I think the Panama Limited named after the all pullman train
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Speaking of bands named after railroads, does anyone else remember the band back in the 80's called "Southern Pacific?" As far as I know, they only had one hit, and that was "Reno Bound." I believe the band personnel were the remnants of Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Doug Clifford, maybe John Fogerty, and one or two others.
(I'm waiting for Mr. Norman to magically pull a You Tube video out of his endless vault of curiosities and memories about that group!......)
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
You may find this interesting about the Southern Pacific bandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Pacific_(band) I always wonder if some of these bands with railroad names, are foamers like us.
Posted by HillsideStation (Member # 6386) on :
Mr. Norman, time has DEFINATELY changed Bryant Park. When I used to commute into Manhattan to our offices in the Murray Hill neighborhood (39th and Third) if I wanted a seat on the subway from Queens I would take the KK line which diverged from the Broad Street line at Delancey Street and proceed uptown on SIXTH Avenue...you're correct no REAL New Yorker probably has any idea there is an Avenue of the Americas. I would detrain at 42nd Street and walk cross town to Third. At the time of the morning I would pass through Bryant Park on my travels east the only ones in the park besides myself were the "residents" who would be performing their morning ablutions in the fountain. But times MUST HAVE CHANGED. Best regards, Rodger
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
It is a really nice park. It seams to be a lot of New Yorkers who are there, except when they have the ice rink there. And almost no homeless any more. It also has some good concerts, and movies. But no homeless. I agree catching the subway in the morning is tough. I wanted to go down to the South St. Seaport, and I had to go to 49 and 7, and I couldn't get a seat till almost the end of my ride.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Here's an artist for whom a JNR train I once rode Tokyo to Hiroshima has adopted as a name:
Nice I didn't know that. I find it interesting that many bands are named after trains. Then you have Grand Funk Railroad which is a play on the Grand Trunk Railroad. You wonder if the founding members were railfans.
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
I would also like to add, that some of the solo artists like trains too.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Remember Merle Haggard's 1970's album "My Love Affair With Trains?" That album contained the bicentennial favorite "Here Comes the Freedom Train."
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
I have never heard of that album, but now I'm looking it up.
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
Don't forget the train named after a song. The Wabash Cannon Ball
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
amtrak92 -- I believe the train came first, then the song! So it was a song named after a train, actually..........
Posted by ehbowen (Member # 4317) on :
Rich,
At least in the twentieth century it was the song, then the train. The song dates from the late 19th century. The Wabash did not rename its St. Louis-Detroit express after the song until some point between December 1949 and August 1950.
It is possible that there was some 19th century Wabash train known (officially or colloquially) as the Cannonball; however I have as yet seen no firm documentation of the same. Should you be able to direct me to any good information to that end, I would be in your debt.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Sorry my mistake! I thought ol' Roy Acuff sang that new song in the 30's or 40's and named it after the crack streamliner. Several Grand Ol' Opry/country tunes ARE named after trains....... ("Orange Blossom Special," "Rock Island Line," to name a couple -- you can even include Arlo Guthrie's "City of New Orleans" in that group!)
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
They are. So many country songs are named after trains. You also have the wreak of the 97, and Casey Jone's Ballads (as there are tons of them)
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
I played the City of New Orleans in New York actually too.